Apparatus for exterminating the ground mole



April 1934- T. J. GLOVER 1,953,677

APPARATUS FOR EXTERMINATING THE GROUND MOLE Filed July 10. 1930 3Sheets-Sheet l I I I I I I I I 1 I I L \NVENTQR April 3, 1934- T. J.GLOVER APPARATUS FOR EXTERMINATING THE GROUND MOLE Filed July 10, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 2 \NV ENTOR April 3, 1934. T, J GLQVER 1,953,677

APPARATUS FOR EXTEBMINATING THE GROUND MOLE Filed July 10. 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 3 \NVENTOR on the upper Patented It, 1934- stares g rgon:

APPARATUS FOR EXTERll/IINATING THE GROUND MOLE It has been discoveredthat the ground mole, as well as some other burrowing animals aredistressed and repelled by a certain character of discordant vibrationswhich may be caused to occur in the soil, resulting in their burrowingto the surface of the soil and retreating as rapidly as possible fromthe neighborhood of the origin of the vibrations. My invention consistsin placing in the soil or on the surface of the soil, mechanisin adaptedfor producing these repellent vibrations and communicating them to thesoil, in which they travel considerable distances, and also forcapturing the animals during their attempted escape.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of the vibration produc ing mechanism, Figure 2 is a top planview of the same with upper parts removed, Figure 3 is a top plan viewsimilar to Figure 2 showing a modified form, Figure 4 is a longitudinalsectional view showing the trapping mechanism, Figure 5 is a top planview or" the trapping mechanism on a reduced scale, and Figure 6 is atop plan view showing the entire apparatus position for operation.

The numeral 1 indicates a casing, preferably composed of metal, adaptedto be buried in the soil 2. Within the casing 1 and rigidly securedthereto is a sounding board 3 to which is secured spring members 4, 5,each provided with a V- shaped extension or pawl 6.

to the top surface of the casing 1 is a.

tube '7, extending upward in a vertical direction, of which is pivoted abearing block 3. A windmill 9 is secured to one end of a shaft 16 whichis iournaled in the block 8. A bevel gear 11 is secured to the other endof the shaft and is adapted to rotate a companion gear 12 supported onthe upper horizontal surface of the block 8.

A vane 13 serves to maintain the mill ii in position facing the wind. Ashaft l i, on the upper end of which is secured the gear 12, passesdownward thru the tube '7 and supports at its lower end a cylindricaldisk or ratchet 15.

The ratchet 15 is provided with notches 16 in its peripheral urface andis so positioned that the extension 5 in spring 4 may rest in one of itsnotches.

As the windmill 9 is rotated by the wind, the gear 11, co-operating withgear 12, rotates the shaft 14 and ratchet 15, thus causing the extension6 to be lifted from one of the notches 15 and to drop into the adjacentnotch and to continue this operation from notch to notch, thus causing aviolent discordant vibration of the sounding board 3, which vibration iscommunicated to the casing 1 and to the soil 2, thru which it spreads inall directions. The casing 1, in addition to furnishing means forsupporting the various parts, functions as a sounding board and becauseof its contact with the soil the vibration is communicated to the soil.Its function is analogous to that of a violin case, whereby thevibrations of the springs are communicated to the case, which, in turn,is enabled to communicate the vibration to the air with greateramplitude and intensity. The casing 1 is essential for securing, in thegreatest degree, the required results.

A modified form of mechanism shown in Figure 3 may be employed, in whicha crank or lever arm 2% is secured to the lower end of the shaft 14 andwithin the casing 1. A ratchet lever is pivoted at 26 to the casing 1and is fitted at its opposite end with a segmental disk 15 provided withratchet notches 16 in its edge. A pin 27 in the lever arm 24 extendsdownward into a slot 28 in lever 25. As the shaft 14 is rotated, the pin27 sliding back and forth in the slot 28 causes the lever 25 tooscillate on the pivot 26, occupying a position as shown by dotted linesand an opposite position thereto at each revolution of the shaft 14. Thepin 2? resting in the slot 28, being at a greater distance from thepivot 26 in the position shown in Figure 3 than when in opposite posi:tion at the other end of the slot 28, the speed of travel of the freeend of lever 25 is thus caused to vary and the rate of vibrationlikewise is varied and for a purpose later set forth. The spring 4 andV-shaped extension 6' secured to the sounding board 3 produce a similarvibration when the shaft 14 is rotated.

It will be observed that by varying the relative diameters of the gears11 and 12 a like relative variation of speed of rotation between thewindmill and ratchet may be secured. By making the 11 small and the gear12 larger, a smaller windmill may be employed, or greater-power may besecured for operating the ratchet 15 at a slower speed. In regions wherehigh wind velocities are preval nt this change of relative sizes ofgears secures a more desirable and effective rate of vibration in thesoil, and provides means for con trolling the rate of vibration. It isobserved that a rate of vibration within certain limits is morerepellent to the animals than other rates of vibration of a higher orlower pitch and that the more effective repellent vibrations need notnecessarily be continuous.

Inasmuch as there are periods when the wind is not blowing and there aresheltered positions adjacent to buildings or trees and in depressions inthe land surface where the wind may not blow, I provide mechanism forthe optional means of electrical operation. On the floor of the casing 1is secured a small electric motor 18 carrying on its shaft a gear pinionl9 meshing with a spur gear 20 rotatably supported from the bearingblock 21 and adapted to rotate a cylindrical ratchet 22, which, like theratchet 15, is provided with notches on its periphery adapted tocooperate with the extension 6 on spring 5 and produce a similarvibration in the sounding board 3 and other parts.

The structures shown represent only one of several electrically operatedmethods that may be employed for producing the desired vibration.Mechanism similar to the electrical buzzer and the automobile horn, bothin common use, may be employed for producing the desired vibrations,without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The vibration-producing mechanism being adapted for operation whileburied beneath the surface of the soil, not only secures maximumfacility for communicating the vibrations to the soil, but permits ofthe operation of the machine without disturbing human residents of theneighborhood, which it would inevitably do if operated on or above theground surface.

In order to prevent the escape of the moles into contiguous territoryafter they are driven ing mechanism, as shown in Figure 6.

from beneath the surface of the soil by the vibrations of the machine,fences are so placed as to completely surround the vibration-produc-These fences have their lower edges bent inward to lar in form, whichmay be sunk into the ground with its upper surface fiush with the soilsurface. Swinging doors 33, 34, disposed horizontally and pivoted to thecasing 32 at 35, 36 are provided with counterpoise weights 3'7, 38 whichcause them to normally rest in horizontal position. A

surface and wings 41 provided with guard flanges 42 extendinghorizontally inward from the lower edge of the wings 41 are provided forpreventing the animals from burrowing beneath the structure.

The animal, traveling along the fences 30 in its endeavor to escape,passes over the plate 40 onto the swinging doors 33, 34 and its progressis arrested by the guard plate 39. Its weight overcomes the resistanceof the weights 3'7, 38 and it drops into the interior of the casing 32.The weights 3'7, 38 return the doors 33, 34 to horizontal position andthe animal is thus prevented from escaping. By these means all themoles, and in some instances other animals, in the soil inclosed by thefences, are driven to the surface and caused to pass into the trapsthere to be confined until liberated.

I claim:

1. A casing, vibration producing mechanism incorporated in the casing,and means for operating the vibration-producing mechanism, for thepurpose specified.

2. A casing, vibration-producing mechanism incorporated in the casing, awindmill, and means connecting the windmill and the vibration-producingmechanism so constructed as to operate the latter, for the purposespecified.

3. A casing, a ratchet incorporated in the casing, a pawl co-operatingwith the ratchet, which pawl is so constructed as to yield when theteeth of the ratchet strike it, as the ratchet is rotated on its axis orcenter, and means for producing relative movement between the ratchetand the pawl, for the purpose specified.

4. A casing, a ratchet incorporated in the casing, a spring memberco-operating with the ratchet, and means for producing relative movementbetween the ratchet and the spring member, for the purpose specified.

5. A ratchet, a spring member co-operating with the ratchet, a soundingboard, and means gar operating the ratchet, for the purpose speci- 6. Asounding board, a spring member co-operating with the sounding board, aratchet oo-operating with the spring member, a windmill and meansconnecting the windmill and the ratchet for operating the latter, allfor the purpose specified.

7. A casing, a standard extending from the casing, a windmill supportedby the standard, a ratchet, gearing connecting the windmill and theratchet, a spring pawl co-operating with the ratchet, and a soundingboard, for the purpose specified. TRUMAN J. GLOVER.

